Evaluation of risk factors for childhood myopia progression: A systematic review of the literature

Abstract

Myopia is a global public issue with a dramatically increasing incidence. Myopia is currently characterized by its earlier onset, quick development in preschool (0–5 years old), and continued progression particularly during the coronavirus-19 epidemic phase. It has been established that myopia experienced during childhood earlier resulted in vision impairment. In order to intervene in myopia development and offer a novel tool for earlier detection, the review attempts to identify known environmental and genetic risk factors for juvenile myopia (6–18 years old). Medline, Embase, and Web of Science databases were thoroughly searched for articles on myopia that had been published within the previous 10 years. The searches were carried out separately by two experts. The study’s inclusion criteria were met by 28 articles. All studies that examined the link between risk factors and myopia were recruited. Parental myopia, near work, time spent outdoors, and a high level of education are all significant risk factors for juvenile myopia. It is clear that there is a strong environmental connection, especially in high myopia; nevertheless, more research is needed to identify any potential links between myopia and screen use. Myopia’s genesis and mechanism are ambiguous and unclear. Further genetic studies could aid in examining genes to comprehend the development of myopia.

Keywords

• childhood myopia
• genetics
• near work
• risk factors
• time spent outdoors